Since diabetes is such a prevalent disease, it has a huge impact on people in the United States and across the world. It is one of the leading causes of death or disability in the United States, and as reported in 2000, was the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. In fact, deaths as caused by diabetes may be underreported on death certificates as diabetes tends to be an underlying cause of deaths by heart disease or stroke, among other types.

A Great Influence

It is estimated that about 65 percent of deaths of diabetes’ patients are related to heart disease or stroke. Diabetes is also associated with long-term complications. These include debilitating complications like blindness, heart and blood vessel damage, stroke, kidney failure, and amputations due to a weakening circulatory system. Nerve damage is also common among diabetic patients with poor disease management. Diabetes can even affect pregnancies. Uncontrolled, the disease can cause pregnancy complications and birth defects, which are more common to babies born to mothers with diabetes.

The economic impact of the disease is equally as great. Statistics from 2002 reveal that the disease cost the United States alone a total of 132 billion dollars. Indirect costs from the disease such as those associated with disability payments, time lost from work, and premature death totaled approximately 40 billion dollars. Direct costs as a result of the disease like medical care, hospitalizations, and treatment supplies cost about 92 billion dollars. Overall, the disease has cost the United States a large chunk of change.

The unfortunate thing about diabetes is not all complications and side effects can be prevented or effectively dealt with. Daily treatment for the disease that enables many type one patients to survive and some type two patients involves insulin injections. These injections cost money for the drug and supplies. There are also testing kits, doctor’s appointments, and tests to keep up with. The disease is certainly a costly one, but the catch-22 is that these costs are necessary in order to help people with the disease lead a better quality life.

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